Chemists Salary
Chemists in Virginia make a median of $96,650 a year, or about $46.47 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $101,962 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in Virginia?
About chemists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Chemists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $91K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $113K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists salary by metro in Virginia
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $97K | +0% | 80 |
| Richmond | $88K | -9% | 320 |
| Charlottesville | $87K | -10% | 90 |
| Roanoke | $87K | -10% | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $82K | -15% | 200 |
| Lynchburg | $64K | -34% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track chemists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,172/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemist a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $91K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for chemists?
Virginia pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chemists make in Virginia?
The median is $96,650 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,870, and experienced chemists can clear $166,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,945/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 27.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemists salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemists salary is worth about $101,962 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.